Reel holder and strip guide



May 19, 1959 D. c. CAUFIELD REEL HOLDER AND STRIP GUIDE.

Filed June 18, 1956 F'IGQI- A'T'TORNE 2,887,281 REEL HOLDER AND STRIP. GUIDE Donald C. Caufield, Columbia, Conn. Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 591,885

2 Claims. (Cl. 242--83) This invention relates to metal working apparatus, and

more particularly to a reel for holding coiled metal stock to be automatically fed to a metal-working press or stamping machine. The apparatus comprises a tray, or platen, rotatable about a vertical axis upon which a coil of metal stock is placed for unwinding the metal strip as it is fed to a metal-working machine. Support is also provided for retaining the stock in its coiled condition on the platen and for guiding the strip in a reverse loop as it leaves the coil in order to prevent slippage, or overrun, of the strip at the machine, or kickback of material at the coil.

More particularly, the guide and retaining means are arranged so that the apparatus does not heed to'be disassembled when it becomes necessary to position a new coil on the platen, inasmuch as the guide and'retaining means can be either swung to one side or the coil may be positioned on the platen beneath'the retaining means.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a coil stock reel wherein the stock may be replenished with a minimum of time, effort and disturbance of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coil reel for strip metal having a rotatable tray, or platen, free of obstructions and which does not require the coil to be centered thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of guide and retaining means for feeding the coil from a revolving support.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a single apparatus for feeding a coil of metal strip stock while revolving about a vertical axis which is capable of adjustment to accommodate a wide variety of coils of varying diameters and widths.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may include the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a reel for strip metal being fed to a stamping machine but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of one complete form of metal coil reel constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 shows a side elevation, partly in section; and

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the guide and retaining means.

In the above mentioned drawing, there has been shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing there is shown a base having a mounting 11 for an anti-friction thrust bearing 12 which supports a tray-like platen 13 for free rotation about a vertical axis.

The base 10 is also provided with a socket 14 adapted to removably support a vertically disposed rod 15' spaced from the outer periphery of the platen 13, and is provided with a clamping member 16 for retaining the rod 15 against rotation.

The rod 15 provides vertically adjustable support for a pair of collars 17 and 18 which are slidably and rotatably received thereon to be secured in any desired vertical and angular position by means such as the respective clamping members 19 and 20.

The collar 17 provides an adjustable mounting for the guide and retaining means shown in detail in Fig.4.

While this portion may be constructed in a number of different ways, a preferred form includes the use of a length of metal rod preferably of circular cross section which is first passed through a suitable aperture 21 provided in the collar 17, secured to the collar by soldering tions 28 and 29, and the vertical section 30 extending downwardly from the section 28 and spaced from the section 27. Preferably, the device should be formed so that the vertical section 30 .willbesubstantially in alignment with the axis of the platen 13, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in which case the retaining arm 23, which extends from the lower end of the section 30, will project in a radial direction with respect to this axis and furthermore, by bringing the junction between the arm 23 and the vertical 30 into juxtaposition with the section 29, not only will the loop 22 be closed but the arms 23 and 25 (defined by the section of rod 29) will also project radially with respect to the axis of the platen. In fact, while the section 29 is shown as extending in a straight line diametrically across the platen, it should be obvious that this section could be bent horizontally at the center at its point of proximity to section 30 to permit the arm 25 to project radially at some other angle than 180 with respect to the arm 24 and, similarly, the arm 23 could be bent at its junction with section 30 to project radially at some other angle than with respect to either of the arms 24 or 25.

The collar 18 supports a horizontally projecting rod 31, a substantial distance above the collar 17. The outer free end of rod 31 is formed in the shape of an upright U indicated at 32 to provide a second guide for strip material 33 being fed from the platen 13. On the upper guide arm 31 may be mounted a wiper formed by two members 40 and 42 between which the strip 33 may pass. These members may comprise a lower metal member 40 soldered or otherwise fastened to the rod 31. On its upper surface is mounted a felt or other absorbent member. The upper member 42 of metal has its opposite ends centrally recessed so that it may be retained in position on the upright portions of rod 31 and rest freely on the strip. A member of felt or other absorbent material may be retained in the member 42 for direct engagement with the strip material.

The size of the opening in the loop 22, through which the material 33 passes, may be changed to suit varying widths of strip if desired, by the addition of a guide pin 34 suspended at one end from the horizontal section of rod '28 and adjustably positioned thereon by a wingbolt 35. Another optional feature includes the provision of a downwardly projecting positioning pin 36, adapted to bear against the periphery of the coil of strip material on the platen, and adjustably positioned on the rod section 29 by a wingbolt 37. By this member 36 the coil of material 33 will be maintained in a generally centered position while being unwound.

In operation, the guide and retaining means supported by the collar 17 should be adjusted so that the arms 23, 24 and 25 are spaced somewhat above the upper side of the coil of material 33 resting on the platen 13 with the vertical section 30 substantially in alignment with the axis of the platen. The free end of the strip material-which may be fed from either the inside or the outside of the coil-4s first passed upwardly through the guide loop 22 in a direction generally away from the machine (not shown) to which the material is to be fed. Its direction is then reversed to pass over the U-shaped guide 32 which will preferably be ofiset angularly with respect to the guide loop 22 to allow the strip material to follow a sinuous path prior to its delivery to the machine. Due to the reverse curvature of this sinuous path a certain amount of controlled slack will always be present in the strip 33 which will compensate for variations in the force exerted on the strip by the machine. At the same time, the natural springiness of the uncoiling stock, acting on the guide loop 22, will be sufficient to assure continual rotation of the platen 13 in response to the rate of demand by the stamping or other form of machine.

Generally, once the position of the guide 32 has been determined, it can be clamped in place by means of the threaded member 20. Furthermore, as long as successive coils of strip are of substantially the same width, it will not be necessary to change the position of the guide and retaining means carried bythe collar 17, and it may remain clamped in place by the threaded member 19. Under these conditions, when it becomes necessary to replen ish the stock, a new coil of material may easily be placed on the platen by sliding it underneath the retaining arms 23, 24 and 25 or the coil may be dropped down on the platen by merely loosening the clamp 16 and swing ing the rod 15, with the assemblies supported thereby, to one side. There is no need to disassemble the apparatus, nor is it necessary for the coil stock to be precisely centered on the platen 13.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stock reel comprising, a base, a tray-1ike platen journalled on said base for rotation on a vertical axis, a socket on said base spaced from the axis of said platen, an upright member adapted to be removably received by said socket to project above the plane of said platen, a first member including a guide loop for strip material from said coil and a retaining arm for said coil mounted for rotation and being adjustable vertically on said upright member, and a second member including a U-shaped guide for strip material from said coil mounted for rotation and being adjustable vertically on said upright member, said last mentioned means carryingstrip wiping members adapted to engage the upper and lower surfaces of the strip.

2. In apparatus for unwinding coiled strip material. comprising, means to support a coil of material for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertical rod spaced laterally from the axis of rotation. of said material to support and position a generally rectangular vertically disposed guide loop above said strip material to receive said strip material from said coil, and a vertically disposed member movably mounted on said guide loop to be horizontally adjustably positioned to vary the width of the opening in said guide loop through which said strip may pass.

Tyrrell June 15, 1943 Clark et al. Dec. 16, 1952 

